The Daily Pour Hosts the Nation’s Largest Alcohol-Free Summit & Festival
September 16–17, 2026 | New York, NY
The 2026 edition of Drinks With Benefits was a great success with over 1,000 members of the public and the alcohol-free industry in attendance. The two-day event began with the Drinks With Benefits Summit on September 16 at New York’s members-only alcohol-free club, The Maze. The Summit brought together founders, investors, distributors, retailers, hospitality professionals, beverage innovators, and consumers for a full day of candid conversations and practical insights.
Across seven panels, experts explored some of the biggest questions facing the NA beverage industry today: how emerging brands can raise capital and scale sustainably, the realities of distribution and retail, the evolution of nonalcoholic wine, the growing influence of functional and hemp beverages, and what it takes to build a successful brand as a female founder. The Summit also featured a Zero-Proof Cocktail Competition in partnership with Opius Distillery, celebrating the bartenders and creators pushing the boundaries of what a zero-proof cocktail can be. Over lunch, attendees had the opportunity to connect with speakers and fellow industry professionals while tasting a selection of alcohol-free beverages.
The consumer festival took place on day two of the event at the Altman Building in Chelsea. The immersive experience brought together more than 70 alcohol-free and functional brands offering guests the chance to discover everything from sophisticated nonalcoholic wines and sparkling alternatives to botanical spirits, functional drinks, and nonalcoholic beer.
Beyond tasting, the festival was designed around the idea that an alcohol-free lifestyle can encompass much more than what’s in the glass. Guests moved among a selection of activities throughout the venue including a curated wine salon, meditation experiences, cocktail workshops, a sober rave, omakase pairings, and music and art experiences. Food was provided by local restaurants including abcV, Le Botaniste, Sushi by Bou, and Délice & Sarrasin.
Drinks With Benefits will be back in 2027 with plans to enlarge the Summit portion after this year’s success.
Photography by Jonathan Grassi. Photos courtesy of Drinks With Benefits.
